Port Blair, May 8: The PCC President Kuldeep Rai Sharma led a delegation of A&N AIDS Control Society to met the Chief Secretary Anand Prakash today where he appraised the CS that the Society was formed in the year 1998 in these Islands to prevent and control HIV transmission and to strengthen the state capacity to respond to long term challenge posed by the epidemic. To pursue the aims and objective envisaged in the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) of NACO, the ANACS since its inception has been employing qualified technical and administrative personnel on contractual basis. All these contractual employees possess the qualification prescribed for the posts held by them and have been appointed by observing proper process of selection. The present strength of such contractual employees who have served for over five years and up to twelve years is 49.

Sharma apprised the CS that it is ironical that the workers who makes the life of the Islanders peaceful and fearless by selflessly and tirelessly combating the challenge posed by this dreadful disease are themselves leading an uncertain and worried life. The poor service condition and inadequate salary coupled with the uncertainty that prevails in a contact employment has urged this Party to approach the Administration for proper appraisal of the grievances of these contract employees of ANACS and to make an appeal for remedy, he said.

As per the existing terms & condition of the contract, the staffs of ANACS are not entitled for any other service benefits like leave accumulation, EPF/PF benefits, promotional avenue & regularization of service. Even the contract salary paid to ANACS staff are much less compared to different categories of staff working under NRHM in the Islands who are appointed much later to these people.

There are instance when the local administration and the Administrator has shown nobility and fairness by regularizing the services of DRMs/Contractual workers of AAJVS, Electricity Department, PMB, PBMC etc. and hence Sharma has opined that similar approach may be adopted in this case too.

In view of the poor plight of the staff working under ANACS, he requested the administration to take appropriate measures/ action to improve the service condition of the contract employees of Andaman and Nicobar AIDS Control Society (ANACS) by amalgamation of the ANACS with the Directorate of Health Services.